Cristian Romero makes Virgil van Dijk U-turn as he praises Manchester United star

Cristian Romero thinks Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez is the world’s best defender.

There were question marks over the 25-year-old when he first arrived at Old Trafford. Martinez's height was questioned having arrived as the shortest centre-back in the Premier League but that did not deter Erik ten Hag from reuniting with the former Ajax man.

Since then, Martinez has proved his status among the division’s best, dispelling high-profile naysayers like Jamie Carragher who believed he did not have the attributes needed to thrive in English football.

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The Argentine also played a part in lifting the World Cup last winter. Martinez started twice and was an unused substitute in the final while Romero played the entire 120 minutes against France.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the World Cup, the Spurs man ranked Virgil van Dijk as the Premier League’s best, pipping Martinez to top spot. He said: “Today, the best defender for me is Virgil van Dijk - always - and Lisandro Martinez from Manchester United. For me, they are the best in the Premier League.”

Fast forward to the present and Romero has U-turned on his Van Dijk stance. While he has enjoyed a fine start to the campaign, Liverpool endured a poor 2022/23, missing out on a Champions League spot.

Martinez, by contrast, was integral to a season of progress under Erik ten Hag, clinching a top-four spot and the Carabao Cup. Romero now ranks his international teammate as the best in world football.

“Licha (Lisandro Martinez),” he told Amazon Prime Sport when asked to name the best Argentines to have played in England. “He, for me, is by